Power System Protection Engineer.

Bonneville Power Administration; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Be Well program

Job summary

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) seeks a Power System Protection Engineer to lead grid protection initiatives across the Pacific Northwest. You will act as the principal technical advisor, guiding engineering and field operations to enhance safety, reliability, and modernization of the regional transmission system.

This senior role requires deep expertise in protective relaying, electrical engineering, and team leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, ABET-accredited, or equivalent combination.
• At least one year in protective relay or power system protection.
• Experience guiding engineering and field teams on grid safety.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Principal Technical Advisor on Grid Safety for internal and external partners.
• Lead and mentor a team of specialists and field technicians.
• Design and implement system-wide quality controls and protective policies.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Leadership

Grid protection

Team mentorship

Education

ABET-accredited engineering program

Job description

Duties

Advance Your BPA Legacy: Secure and Modernize the Pacific Northwest Grid as Our Power System Protection Engineer

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is dedicated to delivering clean, reliable, and sustainable power to millions of people across the Pacific Northwest. At the heart of this critical mission is a complex grid infrastructure that requires absolute vigilance, innovative leadership, and expert oversight. This is your opportunity to build upon your deep understanding of our regional infrastructure and take a defining step forward in your career journey with us.

As our Power System Protection Engineer, you will step into a premier leadership and advisory role from within our Transmission Services division. Serving as the chief technical authority, you will guide our engineering and field operations, directly impacting the safety, reliability, and modernization of the entire regional transmission system. If you are ready to leverage your inside expertise, mentor our talented teams, and shape the future of our grid, this senior technical position is the perfect avenue for your professional growth.

Here are key duties of this high-impact role, designed for an experienced professional ready to lead:

• Serve as the Principal Technical Advisor on Grid Safety: Act as the primary authority and advisor for all internal engineering and operational teams, steering critical decisions on complex grid safety systems, equipment configurations, and future expansion. You will represent our organization as the lead expert to external utility partners, national laboratories, and energy regulatory bodies.
• Lead and Mentor a High-Performing Team of Specialists: Direct and collaborate with a dedicated team of subject matter experts and skilled field technicians. You will establish uniform equipment configurations, set rigorous system protection standards, and manage advanced cybersecurity measures to keep our grid secure from physical and digital threats.
• Drive Technical Training and Professional Development Programs: Design, refine, and deliver advanced training materials regarding the theory, operation, and maintenance of critical power system safeguards. You will champion career development and technical excellence by training the next generation of engineers and field craftsmen across our regional offices.
• Design and Implement System-Wide Quality Control and Operational Policies: Build and execute comprehensive quality assurance programs that ensure all grid protection devices are functioning optimally. You will align our operational standards with evolving energy sector regulations, safety protocols, and industry‑best practices.
• Investigate and Solve Complex Grid Incidents and System Anomalies: Lead investigations into unusual or highly complex power grid disturbances and equipment misbehavior. You will identify root causes, design innovative corrective solutions, and approve system-wide modifications to prevent future power interruptions and maintain regional grid integrity.
• Pioneer the Integration of Next-Generation Grid Technologies: Research, evaluate, and integrate emerging smart-grid technologies, state-of-the-art protection equipment, and modern digital communication protocols to continuously modernize our transmission infrastructure and support clean energy integration.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.

When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.

Key Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.

Conditions of Employment:

• Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
• After employment, this position may be subject to periodic physical examinations, as prescribed by competent medical authority and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards.
• This position has been designated as requiring a PUBLIC TRUST background. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

• Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress‑strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
• OR-
• Combination of Education and Experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
• Professional Registration or Licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. -OR-
• Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. -OR-
• Specified Academic Courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. -OR-
• Related Curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

For more information on how to meet the Basic Requirements please visit:

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also meet the specialized experience requirements as listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirements

A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-13) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) Applying advanced electrical engineering principles to analyze complex power system protection and control (SPC) schemes, develop protective relay settings, and resolve complex system protection issues on a high‑voltage transmission system; 2) Contributing to a comprehensive protective relay program by developing or recommending technical standards, creating setting templates, and evaluating system protection performance to ensure compliance with industry reliability standards; and 3) Developing and providing technical training or guidance on protective relaying theory, applications, and maintenance to other engineers or technical staff.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see

Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".

Additional information

This announcement has been amended as follows: The closing date has been extended to 26-AUG-2026.

• The salary is based on a Special Rate Table, Number 0754:
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE

EEO Policy

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire:

Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case‑by‑case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments

Veterans Information

Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Telework

Selective Service Registration

Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment.

We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.?

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.